Portman: Americans Deserve Truth on Libya Terrorist Attack

Republican Sen. Rob Portman, who’s been playing the role of President Barack Obama in debate preparations with Mitt Romney, said the incumbent probably will “come out swinging” Tuesday.

“They’ve spent hundreds of millions of dollars around the country, including a lot in Ohio, mischaracterizing Gov. Romney’s positions and misrepresenting him, and I think you’ll see that again at the debate on Tuesday night,” Portman said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

On the topic of the terrorist attacks in Libya, the senator said the issue is fair game during the campaign because Americans deserve the truth.

“Folks want to know two things: Why wasn’t the security there, and why did the administration try so hard to create the wrong image as to what happened,” he said. “They went out of their way to try to leave the impression this was because of some video. It wasn’t. It was a premeditated terrorist attack. I think folks deserve an explanation.”

Speaking from Romney’s campaign offices in Boston, Portman said the energy and enthusiasm among constituents in Ohio is “three times” higher than in 2008, and volunteers have knocked on “25 times more doors” in the state.

“He could probably win the presidency without Ohio, but I wouldn’t want to take the risk,” he said. “No Republican has.”